OTC among nation's fastest-growing community colleges
SBJ Staff
Posted online
Ozarks Technical Community College was named the fifth fastest-growing community college in the United States in its size category.
According to a report by Fairfax, Va.-based Community College Week, an independent biweekly publication, the college ranked fifth in the nation among schools with enrollments of 10,000 or greater, with a 9.1 percent enrollment increase between fall 2010 and fall 2011. Enrollment grew to 15,179 in 2011 from 13,907 students in 2010.
"We are excited to be recognized for the growth we have experienced, but these trends will only slow down as we get closer to capacity in our technical and allied health programs, said OTC President Hal Higdon, in a news release. "If we want these trends to continue, we will have to seek out resources that will enable us to grow those high-demand programs."
The listing is based on fall enrollment survey data collected from more than 7,000 schools by the U.S. Department of Education. According to the report by Community College Week, many colleges have experienced enrollment growth during the past five years due to an economy reshaped by the recession.
OTC offers associate degrees and certificates in a variety of technical programs such as auto collision repair, graphic design and culinary arts, allied health programs and two-year transfer degree programs, and workforce development through it's six local campuses and online.
